What is a Software Product Line?
A software product line (SPL) is a set of software-intensive systems that share a common, managed set of features satisfying the specific needs of a particular market segment or mission and that are developed from a common set of core assets in a prescribed way.
Why are Software Product Lines Important?
Software product lines are rapidly emerging as a viable and important software development paradigm allowing companies to realize order-of-magnitude improvements in time to market, cost, productivity, quality, and other business drivers. Software product line engineering can also enable rapid market entry and flexible response, and provide a capability for mass customization.
Framework for Software Product Line Practice, Version 5
A Framework for Software Product Line Practice, Version 5 is a Web-based, living document that aids the software community in software product line endeavors. Each version represents an incremental attempt to capture the latest information about successful software product line practices.
Software Product Lines Knowledge and Expertise
Through this web page, you can:
- Find a brief overview of software product lines.
- Learn from others: Read experience reports or download case studies about organizations that have succeeded with software product line engineering, including those in the Software Product Line Hall of Fame.
- Read about essential activities and practices in the Framework for Software Product Line Practice.
- Find out how to get started, how to adopt software product line practices in your organization, and what diagnostic instruments are available to help you make the transition.
- Learn about the SEI Product Line Curriculum.
- Discover software product line practice patterns and how to apply them.
- Learn about an economic model for software product lines.
- See how to write a business case, production plan, or concept of operations for a software product line.
- Learn about product line analysis and software architectures for product lines.
- Read about software product line practice for acquisition organizations such as the U. S. Department of Defense.
Let us know if you couldn't find something you were looking for.
The SEI's Product Line Systems Program, through the work of the Product Line Practice Initiative, has championed these ideas and pioneered many of the practices that characterize the software product line approach to software development. We are working to make software product line practice a dependable low-risk high-payoff practice that combines the necessary business and technical approaches to achieve success. We are a part of a growing community of researchers interested in maturing product line engineering.